WILL THE BIG DIWALI RELEASE LAXMII SUCCEED IN ENTERTAINING AUDIENCES?

The festival of Diwali will be celebrated next week. Of course, this year, the celebrations will be a bit muted since the Coronavirus scare still looms large. However, Diwali has always meant release of exciting films. This year, it’ll be no different except that most of the films are expected on digital platforms.

One of the first ones of the season and also the biggest one is Laxmii. It stars Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani. It is a remake of the popular Tamil film Muni 2: Kanchana and just like the original, it is also directed by Raghava Lawrence. The film is all set to release in the Diwali week, on November 9, on the streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar. The trailer of the film is a bit over the top but is massy. It shows Akshay getting possessed and that turns him into believing that he’s a transgender. Akshay looks in superb form and his comic and horror timing should be something to watch out for. Also, the song ‘Burj Khalifa’ has become a huge hit and would have made for a great watch in cinemas.

Sadly, Laxmii has been in the news more for the wrong reasons since the very start. Before the film went on floors, director Raghava Lawrence had expressed his displeasure over how he was being sidelined. He tweeted that he’s leaving the film. The makers of the film, however, successfully convinced him to change his mind. The release of the film initially was planned on September 9, that is, Akshay Kumar’s birthday. But the negativity surrounding him and the industry owing to the demise of Sushant Singh Rajput was extreme at that point. This prompted the makers to defer the release by two months.

 

Still, the negativity continued, albeit in lesser intensity. As soon as the trailer dropped, many began to dislike, as per the trend nowadays. Fox Star Studios then had no choice but to deactivate the option of like/dislike from the trailer. Meanwhile, the groups with vested interests continued with their tirade. The film then was titled Laxmmi Bomb and several claimed that their sentiments are hurt as it insults Goddess Laxmi. Also, in the original, the protagonist was a Hindu while here, Akshay’s character is named Asif. Kiara meanwhile plays a Hindu girl named Priya. As expected, the haters dubbed this as an attempt to promote the concept of so-called ‘love jihad’. The fact that just a few weeks back, a case of a Muslim man killing a Hindu girl made news nationwide added fuel to this ‘movement’. For damage control, the makers hence changed the title of the film to Laxmii. The protagonist still remains a Muslim.

If the Sadak 2 episode is anything to go by, then Laxmii too will get a historic number of downvotes on IMDb. Many would claim to have seen the film and found it disgusting. Some, on the other hand, will brag that they have boycotted it and that others should follow suit. However, one thing is for sure. Laxmii is going to get record views. It’s been a while since a big film starring a superstar is releasing. On top of that, it’s Diwali time. Laxmii looks like a clean entertainer and it’ll be watched by thousands of families. Even later, when it comes on television, it can work big time.

Historically, Diwali has been the most-sought-after period for Bollywood releases. This year, there is no clarity yet on theatres reopening but multiple Hindi films are still lined up to hit the OTT as well as silver-screens around the festival of lights.

To start with Akshay Kumar-starrer Laxmmi Bomb is set to stream on an OTT platform on November 9. Then, Varun Dhawan-Sara Ali Khan starrer Coolie No 1 is likely to hit an OTT portal on November 13, while Bhuj: The Pride of India, starring Ajay Devgn, may stream later in the month of November. Plus, Akshay-starrer Sooryavanshi is also slated to release in theatres on Diwali, if they reopen by then.

“No one needs to explain that Diwali is the most lucrative period for film business. People are usually in great mood. Plus, OTT platforms aren’t bound by the box office problems (of multiple films, clashes and all), so there can be several new movies,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

Interestingly, Indian Premier League is kicking off today in the UAE, and experts feel it could be one of the reasons why filmmakers may wait till Diwali, when the league gets over. As per an estimate, the viewership for IPL 2020 is expected to be a whopping 550 million+ in India.

“Yes, it’s true that filmmakers would ideally want to avoid clashing with IPL as it’s a hugely popular property, and people are going to watch it in huge numbers,” says exhibitor-distribitor Akshaye Rathi.

When Akshay Kumar announced the streaming date of Laxmmi Bomb, many in the industry as well as trade insiders were in a “bit of a fix”. The reason being: his film Sooryavanshi, which has been waiting in the wings to release in theatres, is also supposed to hit the silver-screens on Diwali. “I don’t know how it’s going to work out. Will there be Akshay vs Akshay? How will makers tackle the situation, or are they fine with it? It will be quite a peculiar situation if theatres reopen and Reliance (producers of Sooryavanshi) also stick to their release date. Let’s see,” says Adarsh. 

With many B-Town makers taking the OTT route, peeved exhibitors are in talks for dubbed versions of upcoming Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam releases
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 28, 2020)

Cinema halls across the country have been shut since March owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. Even though shoots have commenced, there is no official communication yet from any of the state governments on when theatres can open their doors. Meanwhile, several Bollywood producers have decided to release their films directly on digital platforms. Exhibitors across the country have protested this move, saying this will leave them with little content to screen when they reopen.

Now, Mirror has learnt that these cinema owners have found a way to fight back. They are in talks with producers of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films for dubbed Hindi versions of upcoming releases featuring popular stars and having a pan-India appeal.

“With tent-pole films like Bhuj: The Pride of India and Laxmmi Bomb going off our radar, we’re exploring the possibility of demolishing the language barrier,” informs Akshaye Rathi, a Nagpur-based exhibitor, adding that this will also give South producers an access to thousands of screens across the country.

He believes that South actors like Prabhas, Allu Arjun, Mahesh Babu, Jr NTR, Vijay Deverakonda, Vijay, Ajith, Rajinikanth, Yash and Mohanlal are more popular than some of the upcoming Hindi film stars. “They have a phenomenal draw on TV and we’re now looking to take these so-called regional stars to viewers across the country,” he states. Akshaye is betting on S S Rajamouli’s RRR, Allu Arjun’s Pushpa, Vijay’s Master, Yash’s KGF 2, Vijay Deverakonda’s Fighter, Prabhas-Deepika Padukone’s sci-fi and Ajith’s next, produced by Boney Kapoor, to draw the crowds in the months to come.

Gurmeet Singh Seble, an exhibitor from Delhi, agrees that despite poor dubbing, these South Indian films find an audience on TV. “With proper dubbing and marketing, they can revolutionalise cinema. Anyway, most of the Hindi films coming on OTT would have been theatrical disasters,” he asserts, pointing out that this will also cut down on South remakes and prompt Bollywood filmmakers to think out of the box to compete.

According to the exhibitor, Hollywood films, too, are bringing in numbers, on par with top Bollywood stars. “Collections of South films, too, will spike with every passing year. Wait for KGF 2, it will explode!” he promises, adding that if the Hindi versions of these films do well, it will push South actors to dub for themselves. “This will make them huge pan-India stars.” Gurmeet shares that in the Delhi-UP territory, the rights of some dubbed films sell for as little as Rs 2.5 lakh, but the recovery is very high.

Vishek Chauhan, an exhibitor from Purnia, Bihar, endorses this, saying dubbed films like Bahubali 2, 2.0 and Saaho have been the biggest hits in his theaters in the last few years. “Imagine a three-film old Prabhas opening on par with Salman Khan in Bihar; it’s possible. KGF released alongside Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero with zero hopes and surprised all the exhibitors,” he avers.

He adds that some films like Mahesh Babu’s 2017 thriller, Spyder, would’ve opened big in Hindi belts too. “I got at least 500 enquiries for the film, but the makers didn’t dub it. However, with social media at its peak, good content is travelling by word of mouth,” he says, confident that cinema halls will survive the virus, but isn’t too sure about the future of Bollywood. “I fear soon most Hollywood and South films will perform better than those in Hindi. Bollywood will be shocked when 10 to 12 South films clash with them at the box-office. The day is not far because now it’s all about entertainment.”

HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 16, 2020)

It seems that due to the ongoing lockdown and the rise of Coronavirus cases, theatres won’t be opening anytime soon. So, the latest actor to join the OTT bandwagon after Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Ayushmann Khurrana and Vidya Balan is Akshay Kumar.

Latest reports around the film have confirmed that Laxmmi Bomb will now release on the OTT platform and skip a theatrical release. According to reports Akshay has decided to come out with his film on Independence Day, August 15, 2020.

The film is directed by Raghava Lawrence and is a remake of his 2011 Tamil hit Muni 2: Kanchana. It also stars Kiara Advani and Tussar Kapoor.

Titas Chowdhury and Sonil Dedhia (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 25, 2020)

With the emergence of multiplexes, single screens received a severe blow. While many have died an inconspicuous death over the years owing to stiff competition from multiplexes, some have been converted into them. And while the business garnered by both might face a roadblock in the future, industry experts believe that the post-Corona world will see a resurrection of the single screen theatre. Veteran producer Mukesh Bhatt believes that cheap ticket rates will bring in people at single movie halls. “They’ve cheaper tickets. A huge chunk of our population cannot afford a gold class ticket but they do have the right to be entertained,” he says.

Director Milap Zaveri asserts that the films that are slated for a release in the latter half of the year are single-screen friendly movies and will contribute to their business. He says, “Single screen owners are of the opinion that a commercial masala entertainer is the way to resurrect single screens. It will take a Sooryavanshi, a Radhe or a Coolie No 1 for their business to witness a surge. Whenever cinemas reopen, the first audience who’ll go back to the cinemas is the masses and they’ll see maximum footfalls.”

Trade analyst Atul Mohan opines that with support from actors, single screen owners might be able to heave a sigh of relief. Resonating with Zaveri, he adds, “Producers aren’t giving away Sooryanvanshi, Radhe and Laxmmi Bomb to the OTT platforms as they are masala entertainers that will appeal to single screen audiences.”

Anish Jain, Head of Finance & Taxation, at one of India’s most popular single screens, Raj Mandir (Jaipur) says that it’s seating capacity is more than any high-end plexes in the city and have planned on coming up with a policy to “fit in lesser number of people and implement more effective safety measures”. He elaborates, “We’ll be keeping two empty seats between viewers and handing over masks to them at the time of handing them their tickets. We’re planning to install a sanitisation machine.”

Contrary to others, Manoj Desai, Executive Director, G7 and Maratha Mandir, believes that it’s going to be a Herculean task for both multiplexes and single screens to run in full swing. “So many people have left Mumbai. We don’t know when they’ll return. Entertainment is going to be the last thing on people’s minds even after the lockdown is lifted. I also don’t know if the idea of keeping a gap of two seats between people is going to work out for couples,” he says.

The Coronavirus is now 2 months old and there is a situation where many films are looking at a digital release which was expected if the lock down got prolonged. The smaller films can get out with fair profits and with no clarity as to when films will start to release the digital rights are a god saver. The exhibitors are against this but its more the situation rather than preferring digital for the initial release.

There are also films which are holding out for the theaters as the people involved believe there films deserve the big screen screen release. The films listed below are the ones where shooting was complete. The first group are the films waiting for the theaters and they are.
1. Sooryavanshi
2. '83
3. Coolie No 1

The above films are not set for a digital release at the moment but even here there will be have to be some clarity in the next month or two because there is a limit of waiting to see when they can reach the theatres as the costs build. At the moment there are tentative dates of early July when theatres will open up in US and Europe (some countries have opened) but India is just guess work. If these makers can get a rough idea when they can come it will ease the pressure.

The next film is basically a WHITE HORSE as it is in a different situation to all the other releases as all rights are held by a concern which monetizes on its own platforms.
4. Laxmmi Bomb

This film has been acquired by Fox/Disney for around 150 crore for all rights leaving the producers with huge table profit. Now here, Fox/Disney has a sister concern Disney+ Hotstar which is the biggest OTT platform in India with around 80 lakh paid subscibers and that is almost double of Amazon Prime (figures pre lockdown). Here a digital release will be with Disney+ Hotstar which will mean the recovery will not happen as you are not going to get extra subscribers to cover the huge costs of the film and television which will go to the other sister concern Star Gold which is hit badly with advertisement rates down 80-90% due to Covid 19.

A digital release means that digital and satellite are the only sources of revenue. There is music in the film but that will not go for much when there is hardly any spend on promoting the film. In normal times this film would never have a chance of being a digital release but Disney+ Hotstar has lost IPL which is the biggest content on digital and need some big new content and LAXMMI BOMB is big especially for digital. On top this is the only film that Disney+ Hotstar has at the moment.

The film will be complete with post production soon and although a theatrical release would benefit Disney/Fox, the pressure will be on as other digital giants are announcing new film content on their platforms and more will be announced in the coming time while there is little idea as to when cinemas will open. In the West credit is being given on paid platforms which are unable to provide enough content just to keep subscribers on board as they cancel their subscriptions but that is not the case in India. For a platform like Disney+ Hotstar, they have limited content as its all local and nothing from abroad like Amazon and Netflix.

The next list are generally small and mid budget films where some films have gone to digital while others will probably be announced in the time to come as the lockdown goes on..
5. Gulabo Sitabo (65-70 crore to Amazon Prime)
6. Shakuntala Devi (30 crore to Amazon Prime)
7. Chehre
8. Gunjan Saxena
9. Khuda Hafiz
10. Jhund
11. Ludo
12. Mimi
13. Roohi Afzana

The actor calls herself a ‘home person’, but admits no one had imagined that the ‘world would come to a standstill’
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 20, 2020)

She was shooting for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 till days before lockdown 1.0 was announced. Before that, Kiara Advani was working back-to-back on her slate of films [Good Newwz, Laxmmi Bomb, Indoo Ki Jawani, Shershaah and Guilty]. But then, everything came to a screeching halt due to the Coronavirus pandemic. And the actor admits that sometimes, she finds it all “a bit unbelievable”.

“Honestly, no one — including me — imagined the world coming to a standstill,” says Kiara, adding that she has “anyway always been a home person”. “So, there’s not a feeling that ‘arrey, main atak gayi hoon (oh, I am stuck)’. But having said that, I do miss going on the sets,” she says.

Interestingly, the actor has been making great use of “all the free time”. “I’m using this to expand my knowledge vis-à-vis things that I had been mulling over. For example, I am trying to polish my Urdu diction, and there are so many institutions/universities that are offering free courses. So, the idea is to keep myself engaged in a productive manner,” she says.

Not just that, Kiara is also kicked that she is back in touch with so many people. “I always wanted to reach out to them. Now, I have reconnected with so many of my friends as well as my school teachers. And honestly, it’s such a warm feeling,” says the actor, adding that not many know she also plays online ludo almost every day with her friends and family.

At the same time, what’s really heartening for Kiara is to see the feeling of oneness in people. “Amidst the crisis, it’s great to see how people are valuing basics and finding happiness in them all over again. It’s clear that we all are in it together,” says the actor, adding that among other stuff such as meeting friends and family, an important thing on her to-do list once things go back to normal, is to enjoy a film in a theatre. “And that too, with my bucket of popcorn, but that may take some time,” she says.

At the same time, Kiara is also aware that another thing which “may take time” is a film team “being able to go back to the sets and work”. “I know that it will take some time for film shoots to resume because at any given point, we have 500-600 people on a set. But let’s keep our spirits intact for everyone,” she concludes.
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The written word!
Although Kiara has watched her share of content on OTT platforms during the lockdown period, there’s one thing that the actor wanted to do “in a more regular manner” but couldn’t — reading books. “I am not much of a reader but it’s definitely high on my to-do list. In fact, I have a list of books ready that I want to start [reading] soon,” she says. But in the meantime, the actor has managed to finish reading all the [film] scripts [offered to her]. “That way, I’m making the most of this period,” she says.

Actor most affected among peers by the lockdown
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 19, 2020)

On March 19, various film bodies called for a shutdown of all production work in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak in India. Five days later, the nationwide lockdown was announced. With shoots stalled and releases deferred, the impact has been felt at multiple levels. Akshay Kumar, who is at work for the most part of the year, is using this lockdown to read scripts and take virtual narrations. Meanwhile, he has seven films in various stages of production. Here’s a look at what his slate looks like this year:

1. Bachchan Pandey
After Housefull 4, Akshay teams up with producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Farhad Samji on this action-entertainer, which was to go on the floors in May. The team had decided on the locations and was to go on a recce towards March-end, when the lockdown was announced. The script is currently being fleshed out.

2. Prithviraj
The period-drama was scheduled for a Diwali 2020 release, but reportedly 50 per cent of the film remains to be shot. Akshay plays the title role of Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan, with Manushi Chhillar making her acting debut opposite him as Sanyogita. According to trade sources, the film is unlikely to keep its festival date.


3. Atrangi Re
Akshay’s first collaboration with Aanand L Rai, the film is a cross-cultural love story, moving from Bihar to Madurai, and is set in two different eras. The actor was to start shooting for his ‘special role’ on April 15. The film also features Dhanush and Sara Ali Khan.


4. Laxmmi Bomb
In this horror-comedy, Akshay plays a character possessed by a transgender ghost. The film is under post-production, with the team, including visual effects and editing, working from home to get the final cut ready. Buzz is, makers are negotiating for a direct-to-digital release, but no announcement has been made yet. The suspense continues...


5. Bell Bottom
A period spy-thriller set in the ’80s, this Ranjit Tewari directorial was to kick off in India and move to multiple locations abroad in August. But, according to a source, the logistics may now have to be reworked as shooting outside India might not be feasible over the next year. Meanwhile, the makers are fine-tuning the script.


6. Sooryavanshi
The film marks Akshay Kumar’s entry in Rohit Shetty’s cop universe, which comprises Singham and Simmba. Its March 24 release has been indefinitely postponed due to the Coronavirus outbreak, but Shibasish Sarkar, one of the producers of the action-thriller, has confirmed that it will be among the first major films to release in the theatres once things return to normal. Eight-10 days of post-production on the film still remains to be rushed through.

7. Ekta Kapoor’s action-comedy
After Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara, Akshay teams up with Ekta Kapoor on an action-comedy which is a remake of a Telugu hit. As his calendar was blocked until November, he had allotted dates from December. Now, the film is expected to be delayed by at least six months. The team is currently adapting the original screenplay, keeping a pan-India audience in mind.
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What happens now?

Once the film associations, following a directive from the government, decide to restart shoots, Akshay will sit down with all his producers and rework the entire calendar, accommodating all prior commitments. According to a source, the actor isn’t looking to start shooting any time before October 2020. Following an expected cumulative delay of eight months, the cascading effect will push all his films, but the actor is known to be a thorough professional and will ensure that he wraps up the projects at the earliest.

GHOOMKETU, GULABO SITABO OFFICIALLY MOVE TO DIRECT-TO-DIGITAL

Since the past few weeks, there have been discussions going around about films which might skip theatrical release and arrive directly on OTT, due to the Coronavirus-induced lockdown. Due to the pandemic, the theatres have been shut and there doesn’t seem to be any clear answer on when it’ll be allowed to function. Even if cinemas are given the go-ahead to open, they might have to adhere to norms like alternate seats being kept vacant, deep cleaning after each show etc which would have led to reduced shows and reduced footfalls. Hence, many filmmakers decided to toy with the idea of taking their film directly on OTT.

The names of several films were tossed around but none of them made it official. However, in the past few days, two films finally admitted about their OTT plans. The first one was the long-delayed Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer Ghoomketu. The talented actor plays a struggling writer in this flick which features cameos by Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Amitabh Bachchan and others. The film now releases on Zee5 on May 22, which is also the Eid weekend. That this film skipped theatrical release is not a surprise. Even in normal times, it would have been tough for it to get sufficient shows and who knows, even if the pandemic had not happened, it would have still made it to digital platform.

Today morning, the makers of Gulabo Sitabo ended weeks of speculations by revealing that their dramedy is indeed releasing on Amazon Prime. It stars Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana and is set in Lucknow. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, the film seemed to be in the zone of his 2015 classic Piku. Hence, the hype for the film was sizeable among the multiplex audiences and the film would have, as a result, opened very well. Not to forget, Ayushmann Khurrana’s films are working big time and hence, his pairing with Big B would have added to the excitement. Sadly, the film didn’t have studio support and it must have been difficult for the makers to hold the release and thereby bear the increasing costs. So, they must have taken this tough decision.

The release of Ghoomketu and Gulabo Sitabo would not raise lot of eyebrows as there are still quite smaller films with major appeal in multiplexes of 10-15 cities. But when a biggie, of the size of Laxmmi Bomb, arrives online directly is when a huge controversy will erupt. Here’s hoping the bigger films and even the mid-sized films which are backed by studios don’t take the OTT bait and instead wait for cinemas to open!

Unsure of future course, trade predicts Diwali clash for Sooryavanshi, Coolie No 1, Radhe after they are unable to meet festival release
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 11, 2020)

With Eid round the corner, it is safe to assume that Salman Khan's Radhe and Akshay Kumar's Laxmmi Bomb will be unable to meet their May 22 release. Throw in Sooryavanshi, 83 and Coolie No 1, and Bollywood has five big-ticket projects vying for a lucrative release window after the Coronavirus lockdown is lifted. Trade analysts predict many films will be rescheduled for a Diwali release. A trade source says, "Sooryavanshi, Radhe and Coolie No 1 are massy entertainers with action, emotion and drama — the kind of films that people enjoy watching during the biggest festival of the year."

Even though Independence Day, Ganesh Chaturthi and Dussehra offer festive windows, trade analyst Atul Mohan believes a sense of uncertainty will prevail in the coming months. "Diwali is six months down the line, hopefully, normalcy will be restored by then. It was the original festive window before Bollywood started releasing films over Eid, Christmas and Republic Day weekends. There are enough theatres to release three big movies," he says. It may be noted that 2004 had seen four films hitting the screens in the period — Veer Zaara, Aitraaz, Naach and Mughal-e-Azam that was re-released in colour.

However, considering the films are incurring losses even as they wait in the wings, distributor Raj Bansal cautions it will be hara-kiri to line up more than two movies for the same day. "Diwali is the safest bet for big movies. But, producers should not consider releasing more than two films as they will eat into each other's profits."

Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi offers an optimistic stance when he says, "I am hopeful that cinemas will open by mid-July or at least August 15."

LAXMMI BOMB ROW: MULTIPLEX ASSOCIATION OF INDIA APPEALS TO FILMMAKERS

Last week, we discussed about the possibility of Akshay Kumar-starrer Laxmmi Bomb going directly on the digital platform, Disney+ Hotstar. It has already caused a lot of anger and despair, particularly among the exhibitors. They fear that this will set a dangerous precedent and other producers of biggies might also opt for this idea. The Southern filmmakers, meanwhile, are wary of doing so after Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners’ Association decided to not release any film of Suriya after his wife Jyothika decided to release her film Ponmagal Vandhal on Amazon Prime.

Thankfully in Bollywood, things haven’t gotten so ugly. However, it was necessary to make a point and hence, Multiplex Association Of India (MAI) has made an appeal to filmmakers to support the cinema exhibition sector by holding their films and releasing them in theatres once they're opened again. They released a statement in which they have asked the filmmakers to “kindly respect the exclusive theatrical window, which has been a time-tested industry practice, agreed to by all stakeholders, not just in India, but even globally, for several decades”. They also emphasized that the “collective, social experience of watching films on the big screen needs to be preserved and it can be done so only with the collective support of all stakeholders”.

Many people within the industry are in favour of exhibitors and believe that one should wait for cinemas to open. Also, most films have the backing of a studio and hence, can easily hold on a film’s release for many months. Hence, it doesn’t seem justified for them to not care about one vital sector of the industry and opt for convenient direct-to-digital release. A clearer picture will emerge in the days to come.

Kiara Advani, Bollywood’s newest masterchef, is tackling the lockdown with ghar ka khaana and baking cakes, cookies
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 6, 2020)

While the prolonged Coronavirus lockdown has rendered many restless, Kiara Advani is happy to be home. “I have always been a homebody, so I don’t feel cooped up and I am not dying to step out,” she avers, quick to add that if there’s one thing she misses, it’s work. But till it’s time to get back to film shoots, the actress admits that she is enjoying spending quality time with her family, revisiting indoor board games like Ludo and Uno, which she used to play when in school, and watching old videos from her childhood. “I even connected with my school teachers recently and it was a trip down memory lane,” she gushes.

Meanwhile, Kiara has been honing her culinary skills and exults that she had no idea she was such a good cook, especially when it comes to Indian cuisine. “Maybe it’s my love for ghar ka khaana,” she reasons. Thanks to online tutorials and recipes, she can now stir up simple vegetarian dishes, including the all-favourite khichdi. “Once in a while, I bake a cake or some cookies. I also made gajar ka halwa the other day. Today, you name any Indian dish and I can make it. And that makes me really proud.”

Her new-found talent is a motivation to exercise. As she is quick to point out, workouts are not just to stay fit and be positive, but also to burn all the excess calories.

However, the actress is equally aware that there are many out there who are hungry and suffering, and that no matter how much charity you do, there will always be that one person who needs help. Recently, Kiara came across a blogger online, who had tested positive for Covid-19, and reached out to her. “I stayed in constant touch with her during her stay in the hospital. Thank God, she’s fine now. She was a complete stranger, yet we connected. Everybody is one at this time and I feel so inspired after this,” she shares.

The actress recently interacted with fans on Instagram to discuss the pandemic and the emotions it evoked. “Several people, including me, were confused about the situation. I was concerned about what was happening outside and I wasn’t alone. So, I thought, maybe if we all came together, we could help each other get through it,” she maintains, overwhelmed by the response to the pep talk. “Some were suffering from sleep disorders while some were worried for their future. There was a lot of negativity, but there were also people offering suggestions on how to combat it. The idea was to open up about our feelings and help each other. I recently came across an online course on well-being and happiness that piqued my interest. I’m considering taking it up. Now, is a good time to reflect and understand myself better.”

Kiara confesses that during the early days of the lockdown, she did not want to take the pressure of doing something productive. But after the extensions, she has come to realise that she is in a profession where she can’t work from home, like her parents. “Even school kids are taking online classes and I keep thinking that maybe, someday in the future, we too will be able to shoot a movie from home. But for now, all that I can do is research what to do next,” she rues.

2019 was a big year for her, with Kabir Singh becoming the year’s biggest grosser, and Good Newwz also doing well commercially. Her Laxmmi Bomb was to open this Eid, with the Vikram Batra biopic, Shershaah, following. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 had also gone on the floors and Kiara was sitting pretty when the virus struck, sending everyone scurrying indoors. “Earlier, I was so busy working, I didn’t have the time to enjoy my recent successes. Now, I do. I’m praying every day that we can go back to the sets as soon as possible. It’ll be a lot different, but I’m hoping for the best,” she signs off optimistically.

WILL BOLLYWOOD TALK THE OTT BAIT?

With theatres shut on account of Coronavirus pandemic, the film industry all over the world has taken a hit. Bollywood, too, is no exception. We have discussed in the past editions of Bollywood Talk about films that were to release in the months of March, April and May which got sadly pushed as theatres were ordered to be shut. Many of these films were fully ready. And it’s no surprise that the OTT giants have begun to eye these movies.

As we all know, right now, TV and streaming platforms are booming and have got record viewership since people are all locked down in their homes. Hence, they are consuming unusually high amount of content, which they wouldn’t have done if the situation was normal. The OTT platforms obviously are laughing all the way to the bank. But they too are concerned since after a point, they won’t have anything new to offer as even their productions have been halted. Hence, in order to keep the interest going, they have started approaching makers of all the films that were scheduled for release in the near future. One might expect that they’ll approach only filmmakers of smaller and medium-sized films. However, they have been sending feelers to producers of biggies as well. Thankfully, Reliance Entertainment, the producers of ’83 and Sooryavanshi, have refused to take the bait and are preferring to wait. Same with Salman Khan-starrer Radhe.

However, the industry and trade were left shocked as it came to light that Fox Star Studios, Akshay Kumar, Tusshar Kapoor and Shabinaa Khan are in advanced talks with Disney+ Hotstar for their film Laxmmi Bomb. It has Akshay in the lead and is one of the biggest and one of the most awaited films of 2020. It was to in fact clash with Radhe on Eid 2020. Hence, many were astonished that such a big film is opting for direct-to-digital release. There’s no confirmation on how much Disney+ Hotstar is offering them but it surely must be an excessive amount.

The Laxmmi Bomb makers haven’t still signed on the dotted line. However, the fact that they are in talks and that they haven’t denied the reports has led to anger and even concern among the exhibitors. The theatres have been shut since mid-March and are running into heavy losses. They don’t just have to pay salary employees but also bear the overhead costs. Also, once cinemas began, they’ll have to further invest in sanitation measures, which will further give them a financial blow. Hence, they are just hoping that more and more big films release so that they can earn profit. And Laxmmi Bomb is one such film which they were looking forward to big time. As a result, the speculations of it going on Disney+ Hotstar has naturally infuriated them. They are also worried that filmmakers of many smaller and mid-sized flicks might also follow suit, motivated by Laxmmi Bomb episode. That, in turn, will led to closure of some cinema halls and loss of jobs for it’s staff.

The scenario arose in the South as well but there, the exhibitors have much more power and have resorted to extreme measures. When it came to light that Ponmagal Vandhal, produced by Suriya’s wife Jyothika will come directly on Amazon Prime after it failed to release on March 27 as it scheduled, it led to a lot of brouhaha. The Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners’ Association have in fact threatened to ban films produced by or featuring Suriya if Ponmagal Vandhal directly arrives on OTT. It won’t be a surprise if our theatre owners also take a similar, drastic step.

Amid industry chatter that theatre lockdown is likely to be extended, Disney+Hotstar in talks with makers of Akki's horror-comedy for direct-to-web release
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 25, 2020)

The giant tub of popcorn has been replaced by a humble bag of chips, and the big screen by our 14-inch laptop screens — there's no denying that the lockdown has changed the way we watch movies. It appears there may be a further shift in cinema viewing pattern. Even as many filmmakers have decided to wait out the period and release their offerings on the big screen, the key players of digital entertainment have initiated dialogues with studios about releasing their films directly on the Internet. Amongst the first superstars to consider taking the leap is Akshay Kumar. Sources said Disney+ Hotstar is in talks with the actor to procure the release rights of Laxmmi Bomb, which was slated to hit theatres on May 22.

A source reveals, "Akshay, director Raghava Lawrence and the producers are discussing the offer. There's a lot of post-production work left on the movie, including editing, background music, mixing and VFX. Since the team is working from home, the process is taking longer than usual. However, the makers are hoping to have the film ready by June. Although currently, the lockdown is on till May 3, theatres may continue to remain closed to ensure social distancing. In such a scenario, the team may consider having a direct-to-web release."

As a producer with sharp business acumen, Kumar had understood the potential of digital entertainment early on, and hence, decided to foray into it with the in-the-works series, The End. He is contemplating if releasing the horror comedy — a remake of the Tamil hit, Muni 2: Kanchana (2011) — online will be a wise move. "Akshay wants to make sure none of the invested parties make losses, and that the movie reaches a wide audience. While Disney+ Hotstar ensures a worldwide reach, making the film available across small towns in India will be a concern for them."

Actor Kiara Advani misses going on sets, but she is also glad the world is seeking happiness in simple things
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 25, 2020)

Last year, she “had no time to breathe” with two back-to-back releases, and shooting for five (including an OTT film, Guilty) films. But this year, actor Kiara Advani has all the time in the world. “In 2019, I was running around so much, working on one film after the other. At one point, I was like, ‘Am I doing enough, or am I doing too much?’ Now, I can confidently say I was happy I was doing that (running around),” she says.

Calling the lockdown “an extraordinary situation”, Advani says she is “very much a home person by nature.” “In normal circumstances, when I’m at home, I’m the happiest. But now, Earth has pressed the pause button and is filtering itself. But it’s great to see that we’re all now finding happiness in simple things of life, and are also coming together to lend a helping hand selflessly,” the actor adds.

So, how is she coping? “I must say that we’re the privileged ones, and we can only be grateful to God for that. With a roof over our head, we don’t have to worry about our next meal, etc. During the first part of lockdown, it was about doing something that I haven’t done before. But lockdown 2.0 is all about my hobbies, and rediscovering art such as painting and even cooking, which are extremely therapeutic,” she says.

Advani is also finishing reading her scripts. “Plus, I’m using this period to polish my Urdu and Hindi diction. I’ve also gotten back in touch with so many of my friends and even school teachers. There’s a feeling of oneness, that we are all in this together,” says the actor, adding that she misses going out on sets. “Once things become ‘normal’, I’ll immediately meet my team members, and also friends and extended family members. I also want to go to a theatre and enjoy a movie with popcorn,” she says.

Work-wise, a day after Coronavirus was declared a pandemic, the makers of her film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 decided to pause the shoot in Lucknow. “But Shershaah is complete. And just five-six days of work was left on Laxmmi Bomb and Indoo Ki Jawani,” the actor shares.
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Catching up!

“I’m not much of a reader, but reading [books] is surely on my bucket list. I have a few books that I want to read. But, of late, I have watched a lot of shows as well as films, such as Pushpavalli, 9-1-1, Little Fires Everywhere, Special Ops, Knives Out, among others. For some reason, I have been watching a lot of crime-related stuff. But you can say that I am keeping myself entertained.”

As Bollywood misses a date with the festival this year, we look at its impact, and if 2020 could be catastrophic for the film business
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 15, 2020)

Usually, the period of Eid brings a lot of cheer — and a lot of moolah as well — to Bollywood. But this year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, B-Town won’t keep a date with Eid as Salman Khan’s Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai and Akshay Kumar-starrer Laxmmi Bomb have been delayed. Reportedly, besides a few days’ shoot, editing work on Radhe, too, is yet to be completed. And post production work is still to be completed on Laxmmi Bomb.

“The first quarter of 2019 was really bad, and now, with no Eid release, the second quarter has also started on a disastrous note,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh. Losing out on an ever-dependable Eid weekend is a nasty blow since Bollywood business has already lost approximately ₹250-300 crore in the first quarter with the only major hit being the Ajay Devgn-starrer Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior.

“Missing out on Eid is a huge setback since we depend on big festive periods for our tent-pole films to exploit. Also, the second quarter isn’t going to exist in our books now. The box office is, and will be, zero. But on the positive side, pent-up demand is a big factor in entertainment sector so, we are hopeful,” says distributor-exhibitor Akshaye Rathi. For producer Bhushan Kumar, who has nine releases in 2020, “it all looks dark right now”. He says, “No one is in the position to foresee anything. There was a time when producers would fight to grab festive periods such as Eid.”

So, the big question is will 2020 will turn out to be one of the worst years in recent times? “We don’t know what the future holds but it could turn out to be true. Movies are the last thing on people’s minds now,” says Adarsh. Rathi adds, “When every sector is getting badly hit, how can we be unaffected? Be it the exhibition, distribution or production, every section of film business is losing money daily as our profit margins are, anyway, not very big. And the fact that theatres are the first places to get shut, and the last to open, doesn’t help matters either.”

NOT TOO BRIGHT!
Trade experts feel the first quarter of 2020 has been “has been the worse in the last 2-3 years.” Apparently, the earnings [in the first quarter] has been Rs 778 crore, while last year, it was Rs 1,090 crore. In 2018, the numbers were around Rs 923 crore. Going forward too, there are a lot of questions, says Bhushan Kumar. “When will theatre re-open? Even when they open, will people go to watch films immediately? How will the social distancing norms be followed? Should movies be released digitally? But in that case, there is not enough recovery. So, it’s difficult to gauge anything right now,” he says.